Does this skill work with specific programming languages?

It is language-agnostic and works with any TUI built in Rust (Ratatui), Go (Bubble Tea), Python (Textual/Rich), Node.js (Ink/Blessed), or C++.

How does it handle visual regression testing?

The skill provides patterns for capturing 'golden files' of known-good terminal states and comparing them against current output to detect UI regressions automatically.

What dependencies are required to use this skill?

You need tmux installed for session management and the 'freeze' tool from Charmbracelet if you want to generate high-quality image captures of the terminal.

What is the primary benefit of the TUI development skill?

It allows AI agents to 'see' and interact with terminal interfaces by using tmux as a headless environment, enabling a feedback loop that was previously difficult for text-based models.

TUI Development & Visual Testing

Name: TUI Development & Visual Testing
Author: tomdale

bytomdale

•

Seguridad y Pruebas

Develop, test, and debug Terminal User Interface (TUI) applications using tmux as a headless terminal environment.

This skill empowers AI agents to build and refine Terminal User Interfaces (TUIs) by treating tmux as a headless browser for terminal applications. It establishes a robust visual verification loop, allowing agents to execute TUI applications in detached sessions, simulate complex user interactions via key sends, and capture terminal states using tools like freeze. By enabling automated regression testing and visual state analysis, it solves the traditional challenge of parsing visual terminal output, making it an essential tool for developing sophisticated CLI utilities, dashboards, and interactive terminal tools.

Características Principales

01Scripted terminal interactions including special keys, navigation, and timing

02High-quality terminal screenshot generation for documentation and debugging

03Headless TUI execution using detached tmux sessions with custom dimensions

04Automated visual state capture with full ANSI color and Unicode support

051 GitHub stars

06Visual regression testing through state comparison and 'golden file' validation

Casos de Uso

01Capturing standardized terminal UI screenshots for technical documentation and PRs

02Automating integration tests for interactive CLI tools without a physical display

03Building and debugging complex TUI frameworks like Ratatui, Bubble Tea, or Textual

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add tomdale/dotfiles tui-development

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill